Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons^™

The Aims Of Adventist Education: A Historical Perspective, George R. Knight

Faculty Publications

Why operate Adventist schools?

The Adventist pioneers clearly believed their schools were to preach the third angel’s message and do the work of the church. According to Ellen White, the ultimate educational aim is “service.”

But being able to serve implies training in both the intellectual and moral realms. The early believers generally agreed that (1) character development was crucial, that (2) the common branches of study as well as the arts and sciences were important, and that (3) the biblical worldview must provide the matrix in which Christian understanding takes place.

Thus, although early Adventists largely agreed on the …